Yieldable support



June 5, 1951 w. L.. FISCHER 2,555,637

YIELDABLE SUPPORT l Filed sept. 25, 1946 2 sheets-sheet 1 FIG INVENTQR l WILLIAM L .FlsHr-:R BY C' gaf ATTO EY June 5, 1951 i w, FISCHER 2,555,637

l YIELDABLE SUPPORT Filed Sept. 25, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG .5.

INVENTOR WILLI'AM l. FISCHER ATT NEY Patented June 5, 19.51

u Nrrco mr o Fi F icc 2,555,637' YIE'LALE snroii'i" Warner L. Fischer, Schenectady, Niv., assigns' t'o American Locomotive (Eonrilalny,` New York, N.I Y.; a oorporation of New York Apiicatidii september 25,19456, 'ser-iai No. 699,263'

(op soci-26)V This invention relates toyieldable supports.

The invention hasv particular refe'rencetol a support of me hollow mow-'block type adapted to yieldably s'il'pp'ortY a load wherein a plurality f l'e'af springs co-operat-e withaplural-ity of sup-v porting surfaces therefor` in sucli manner that the vibration characteristics ofA the'leaf springs change as a function of the deflection thereof.V

The invention has further reference to a sup; port f the pillovveblo'ck `type havinga subst/antia-Hy' rectar'igularV ch'amber internally thereof whose wall surfaces are faced withl stacks of leaf springs disposed in laterally spaced pairs' at right angles to each' other, with the intermediate portion of each wall surface spaced from its correlated leaf spring to provide separately yield# able suriaces defining a rectangular opening aida-ily of and within the support for the reception of a tubular element in tio-operative relation therewith. O

An object of the invention is to provide a yield`` abile all-metal which is of Snpl c0111- structien, small size ancladapted fory yieldably supporting' substantial loads.-

A-notner object is' tol provide `a yieldable, vifbr'ationfdamping supportas aforesaid,A which is particularly adapted for use as a trunnion care riage or `cradle for supporting or pivotally sup'- portingl, for example', `small engines, pumps, water-cooling radiators and the like.

A further object is to provide a yieldable', vibrationedamping support which is not affected by high or low temperatures, oil, water or other substances harmfiil to non-metallic damping materials such asrubber, for example,- and which will retain maximum resiliency over longperiods or use.

With the above-and other objects inl-view, the invention resides in the novei construction, combination and arrangements of parts, the novel features of which are set forth with particularity in the appended claims; the invention itself, how; ever, both as" to itsV organization and operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, being best understood from the following description of a specific embodiment when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which: i

M `ligure 1 is a view, in elevation, of a device embodying the present invention; Fig. 1 is a sectional view on theUlineVII-II of Fig. 1, parts being shown in full and a supported structure shown ffaginentaiiyLFig.` s a' sectional view taken Aon" the line" nig-IIJ: of AEig. 2*; Fig. 4 .a view similar to' the left' haif of Fig. e tui srigntiv lil) eziaggerated to best show one pack of leaf springs in deflected position; and Fig 5 is' a perspective view of a hair section of the pillow-mock forming a part of the device of Fig. 1`.- Y

Referring tothe drawings,` a yieldable vibration-'damping support, constructed in accordance with this invention as shown, is preferably, although not necessarily, of the one-piece pillowblock type, and will be so described by way of example.

In accordance with the invention,4 the support includes a one-piece pillow-'block I0 having a Substantially rectangular or prismatic interior chamber I'I which opens outwardly ofthe pillowblock I0 through relatively small rectangular opposite end openings I2 formed in the front and' rear walls I3 and I4 thereof, the center of the chamber Il and the end openings I2 being in axial alignment, the' openings I2 being relatively smaller thanthe chamber II sov that portions of the Walls I3 and III overlap the chamber I I, as is clearly shown in Fig. 5. l Further in accordance with the invention, the front or lowermost half of the lchamber II, as seen in Fig. 2, houses two oppositely spaced, vertically disposed packs of leaf springs Iii, and the remaining half of the chamber II houses two similar packs of leaf springs I6 which are also oppositely disposed but in a horizontal plane or normal to the aforesaid packs of leaf springs I5 and in laterally spaced relation thereto as clearly shown in Fig; 2. l A Y The packs of leaf springs I5 and I6 eachcomprise a plurality of separate leaves which are stacked in superposed relation in their respective positions within the chamber II by inserting each leaf edgewise through the end opening I2 of the rear wall I4 which is provided with a plurality ofV rectangular slots I1 inwardly of its edges to permit passage of the' spring leaves therethrough, when a pillow-block of the one-piece type is utilized. lThe bottom leaf spring pack supports the dead weight load of the supported structure and therefore it will necessarily be stronger' than the other leaf spring packs.. The individual leaves may be curved when unloaded and become straight when in normal operative position, as will presently appear, and the slots I'Iy are wide enough to admit such curved leaves.

uThe' wall surfaces dening the front half of the chamber II housing the packs of leaf springs I5v comprise upper and lower horizontal surfaces I8, each defining I an intermediate shouldered portion or boss I9 between, but spaced from, the adjacent opposite end portions of the packs of 555,637 i n if leaf springs I5; and opposite side wall surfaces 20 substantially normal to the surfaces I8. Similarly, the Wall surfaces defining the remaining half of the chamber I I housing the packs of leaf springs I6, comprise vertically disposed opposite side walls 2I and upper and lower wall surfaces 22 substantially normal thereto. The aforesaid wall surfaces I8 and v2| are flat whereas thewall surfaces 20 and 22 each constitutes a pair of curved surfaces 20a and 22a respectively, and

each pair converges outwardly from the opposite Y ends of its correlated pack of leaf springs, each of the aforesaid curved surfaces being convex about a horizontal axis so that the end portions of the outer face of eachof theadjacent leaf springs seat substantially tangentially on a Y can be added, or thicker leaves can be used, or

'a 'closure plate 28 is preferably detachably secured to the front side of the pillow-block I0 by means Yof suitable tap bolts '29, as is clearly shown in Figs. 1- and 2. The opposite side may have a flexible seal (not shown) not interfering with the curved surface. Thus, a clearance space is provided between the outer face of each outer leaf spring and the juncture of the curved surfaces a or 22a, as the case-maj7 be, adjacent thereto, to permit bending of each pack of leaf springs about its points of engagement with theouter ends of the curved surfaces, the points of engagement being indicated at a in Fig. 3, and lof deflected leaf springs at b in Fig. 4.

vThe bosses I9 help to hold the pack of leaf springs I5 in spaced relation during assembly. There are no bosses I9 between the lpacks of leaf springs I6.

In the bending or flexing of the packs of leaf springs I5 and I6 about their points of engagement with the end portions `of the curved surfaces 2Ila and 22a, these points yof engagement shift'toward the juncture of the curved surfaces as each pack of leaf springs is deected, and away from the juncture as each pack of leaf springs returns to its normal position. Thus, it will be apparent that the Vibration-damping characteristics of the packs of leaf springs change as a function of the deflection thereof, the effective length Aof each pack of leaf springs shortening as it is compressed.

.From the above, it will be clear that the aforesaid shift in the points of engage-ment between the packs of leaf springs and their ,correlated curved surfaces 26a and 22a, creates a quick stif- `fenin'g effect and a change in the natural frequency of the packs of leaf springs which is desirable to avoid a dangerous resonance condition coupled with a damping due to friction between adjacent leaves.

As clearly shown in Fig. 2, a tubular bushing or sleeve 23 having a flange 24 formed on one end thereof, is journalled on and between the respective packs of leaf springs I5 and I6 with the flange 24 substantially in'abutment with the packs @I6 can be inslightly spaced relation as is clearly shown in Fig. 2. 4The sleeve 23 spreads the packs of leaf springs apart so that the packs of leaf springs, which may be curved when unloaded, are straightened up as shown, and exert forces upon lthe sleeve yieldingly resisting its movement. The characteristics of the packs of leaf springs can 'be adjusted by the choice of leaves used. Where stronger packsiof leafsprings aredneeded, leaves motion of the sleeve 23 or the member supported therein.

. From the foregoing it will be clear to those skilled in the art that the present invention provides a simple, reliable support adapted to pivotally receive supporting trunnions, pintles, stub shafts `and the like, as indicated, for example, by the reference character 36, in a yieldable, vibration-damping manner, the yieldable characteristic being provided in any direction by the four packs of leaf springsl and the damping characteristics being -due to the friction between the leaves of the packs. While only one pillowblock support has been shown, ordinarily two spaced supports will be used together, as to support opposite trunnions on the sides of a radiator.

While a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been illustrated and described, it is to be expressly understood that modifications thereof are possible. This invention, therefore, is not to be restricted except insofar `as it is necessitated by the prior art and by the scope of the appended claims. j

The invention claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A support for a load comprising ahollow block having an interior rectangular chamber; two spaced vertical packs of leaf springs disposed in one-half of the chamber; two spaced horizontal packsV of leaf-springs disposed in the other halfA of the chamber; and a member disposed in the spaces between the packs, each of the packs normally pressing yagainst the member to hold it in central position whereby movement of the member toward any one of the packs is yieldingly resisted and dampened by frictionde- 'fveloped .between the leaves of the packs during their reflection, the portion of the chamber-defining wall opposite the outer facerof each of the Apacks lhaving itwo parts converging outwardly yaway from the opposite ends. of the adjacent back and 'curving convexly about aY horizontal axis thereby to provide a space permitting de flection of the adjacent pack.l

2. A support for-a load comprising a hollow block having an interior rectangular chamber; two spaced vertical packs of leaf springs disposed in one-half of the chamber; two spaced horizontal packs of leaf springs disposed in the other half of the chamber; and a member disposedin the-spaces between the packs, each of the packs normally pressing against the member to hold it in central position -whereby movement of the member toward'any one of the packs is yieldingly resisted and dampened by friction developed between the leaves of the packs during their deflection, the portion of the chamber-de'- 'nning wall opposite the outer face of each of the packs having two parts converging outwardly away from the opposite ends of the adjacent back and curving convexly about a horizontal axis thereby to provide a space permitting deflection of the adjacent pack, each of the packs, vwhen undeflected, engaging the adjacent wall parts substantially tangentially at its ends, the points of engagement of each pack moving together during deflection of the pack, whereby the effective length thereof is shortened and the natural frequency thereof is changed.

3. A support for a load comprising a block having an inner chamber; a member disposed horizontally in the chamber for supporting the load, the chamber having two vertical walls on opposite sides of the member, and two horizontal walls oifset from the vertical walls and on opposite sides of the member, each of the walls having two portions converging outwardly from their opposite ends yaway from the member, and curving about a horizontal axis; and a pack of leaf springs compressed between each of the walls and the member, each of the packs engaging its chamber `wall at its end portions only and engaging the said member at its center portion only whereby movement of the member toward any one of the packs is yieldingly resisted and dampened by the inherent spring friction, the point of juncture of the two portions of each wall being spaced from the adjacent pack of leaf springs thereby permitting deiection of the same and the points of engagement of each of the packs, with its correlated wall, changes during deection, thereby shortening its effective length and changing its natural frequency.

WILLIAM L. FISCHER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,962,993 Leece June 12, 1934 1,967,052 Dumm July 17, 1934 2,012,997 Junkers Sept. 31, 1935 2,239,867 Weckstein Apr. 29, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 214,298 Great Britain 1924 655,577 France 1928 

